Incubators for infants

ABSTRACT

An incubator has a reflecting plastic sheet overlying the transparent plastic dome of an infant sheltering chamber which has a clear plastic bottom that defines a partition wall for an underneath irradiation chamber that is environmentally isolated from the rest of the incubator and in which a bank of fluorescent lamps is operatively disposed so as to irradiate the infant sheltering chamber from below with the irradiation chamber being continually flushed with fresh air to dissipate heat from the lamps and eliminate explosion hazards.

United States Patent 151 3,705,576 Roth [4 1 Dec. 12, 1972 i541INCUBATORS FOR INFANTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 lnvemon WilfredRoth, Burlington. 1.094.444 11/1953 France ..l28/l B [73] Assignee:Research Corporation, New York,

NY. Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne[22] led: 1970 Attorney-Stowell & Stowell [2]] Appl. No.: 75,571

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. ..l28l1 B, l28/37l, 250/51 An incubator hasa reflecting plastic sheet overlying [51] Int. Cl. ..A61m 16/02, A6ln5/01 the transparent plastic dome of an infant sheltering Field ofSearch l chamber which has a clear plastic bottom that defines l28/ 5,51, 77 a partition wall for an underneath irradiation chamber that isenvironmentally isolated from the rest of the in- Rem'mces cubator andin which a bank of fluorescent lamps is UNITED STATES PATENTSoperatively disposed so as to irradiate the infant sheltering chamberfrom below with the irradiation Ott et al chamber being coxninuallyflushed with fresh air to 2,822,476 2/1958 Osgood ..250/5l dissipateheat from the lamps and enminate exp|osion 2,559,654 7/1951 Netteland..l28/37l x 2,662,52l 12/1953 Armstrong et a1. ..l28/1 B 3,447,8926/1969 Watson et al ..250/5l X 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU BIC12 1922 SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR WI LF RED ROTH BY W W ATTORNEY!PATENTEDBEBIZ m2 3705576 SHEEI 3 OF 3 m as w E g i; g

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INVENTOR W ILFRED ROTH BY jjfz/ 551M ATTORNEY;

INCUBATORS FOR INFANTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention generally appertains to new and novelimprovements in incubators and, more particularly, is directed to a newand novel incubator that is particularly constructed and adapted for thesheltering and care of prematurely born infants.

2. Description of the Prior Art In accordance with commonly practicedobstetric and pediatric practices a prematurely born infant is placed inan incubator as a routine matter of precautionary care because in suchsheltered area the infant can be kept under controlled conditionsespecially with regard to atmosphere, humidity and temperature. However,in many instances premature infants have medical conditions that must behandled on different bases and these present problems. One suchconditions is the presence in premature infants of bilirubinemia which,in its milder form, is a jaundice producing liver condition.

It has been discovered that a reduction in bilirubinemia in prematureinfants can be realized when the infant is irradiated with light fromfluorescent lamps. In present practice, an infants incubator, such as aconventional "isolette" incubator, is positioned on the nursery floor sothat it underlies a standard ceilingmounted fluorescent lamp fixture. Inthis way the fluorescent lamp irradiates the infant from above with thelight rays passing down through the transparent plastic dome or topenclosure of the incubator.

Such an arrangement is a make-shift one that is cumbersome since theincubator has to be placed at a particular place on the floor of thenursery so that it is directly beneath the fluorescent fixture. Further,since the light level on the infant has to be high, on the order of 300to 400 foot candles, the general illumination around the incubator fromthe fluorescent lamp fixture must also be high.

In addition, the entire procedure depends upon the existence offluorescent light fixtures and the physical ability to maneuver theincubator into proper position beneath the fluorescent lamp and eventhen only part of the infant-s body can receive the illumination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With knowledge of the medicinal value ofirradiating premature infants with light rays from fluorescent lamps andwith recognition of the difficulties of accomplishing such under presentconditions, it is a primary object of the present invention to providean incubator wherein the infant's entire body surface can be bathed withfluorescent lamp illumination in a safe and continual manner with theincubator itself serving as a source area for the fluorescentillumination.

Generally considered, the infants incubator is constructed so that ithouses a plurality of fluorescent lamps that irradiate the mainincubator section or infant sheltering chamber. The lamps are disposedin a coplanar bank in an irradiation chamber beneath the infantsheltering chamber and environmentally isolated therefrom so that thetemperature, relative humidity and oxygen percentages of the infantsheltering chamber or main incubator section can be controlled in theconventional manner.

The two chambers are separated by a clear plastic fluorescent raypermeable partition on which a waffletype clear plastic fluorescent raypermeable mattress is disposed. The plastic mattress is formed so thatit resembles a plastic waffle in which each projection is filled withair. The waffle-type plastic mattress generally permits the freecirculation of air about the skin of the infant and the mattress.

The high level of fluorescent illumination produced by the lamps ismultiply-reflected within the main incubator section or infantsheltering chamber into which it freely passes through the plasticmattress and partition by virtue of a reflecting plastic sheet whichentirely overlies the conventional clear plastic dome of the incubator.Because of the multiply-reflecting arrangement within the infantsheltering chamber and the primary illumination source below suchchamber, I00 percent of the infants surface will continually receiveillumination.

In order to dissipate heat from the multiplicity of fluorescent lampsmounted coplanary within the irradiation chamber, a motor driven fan isdisposed in a cabinet below the irradiation chamber and the fan isconnected to air conduits that open into one end of the irradiationchamber with the opposite end having an air exhaust opening. Thus, theirradiation chamber is continually flushed with fresh air not only todissipate the heat from the lamps but also to eliminate high oxygenconcentrations that might otherwise constitute an explosion hazard.

Within the bottom cabinet that has servicing openings closed by doors,storage compartments for transformers and starters for the lamps areprovided with the thusly stored transformers and starters beingconnected by sheathed wiring to the lamp sockets.

Accordingly, a further important object of the present invention is toprovide a safe and accident free arrangement whereby the entire bodysurface of a sheltered infant can receive illumination from florescentlamps.

A still further important object of the present invention is to providea simple, compact and relatively inexpensive incubator wherein infantscan be irradiated with light from a primary source of fluorescent raysconveniently and expeditiously carried by the incubator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of aninfants incubator constructed in accordance with and embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof with portions of the domeremoved to illustrate interior constructions relating to the lamparrangement and the air flow directing means.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of the dome andoverlying reflecting plastic sheet and is taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2 andillustrating the mattress on the plastic partition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the accompanying drawings, the infant incubator comprises arectangular box-like base cabinet or housing 12 having a bottom wall 14provided with caster wheels 16. The base cabinet 12 has opposing endwalls 18, a back wall 20 provided with a screened vent 22 and a frontwall 24 provided with access openings 26 that are adapted to be closedoff by hinged doors 28. The base cabinet 12 serves as a movable basesupport for the main incubator section 30 and as a storage area forpurposes and in a manner to be described.

The base cabinet 12 has a top wall 32 which is formed with a largecentrally disposed rectangular opening 34. The opposing ends of theopening are bounded by end sections 36 of the top wall and verticalplates 38 upstand from the end sections perpendicular to the opening 34and define in their longitudinally spaced parallel relation verticalabutment plates at the ends of the opening 34. Socket bars 40 and 42 aremounted along the opposing side edges of the opening so as to receiveand support fluorescent tubes 44 that are arranged in a coplanarhorizontal bank within the opening with the tubes being disposedtransversely of the opening and in longitudinally spaced apart parallelrelation.

A clear plastic flat rectangular panel 46 overlies the tubes 44 andcloses off the opening so that it serves as a bottom wall for the infantsheltering chamber 48 and as a top wall for the underlying irradiationchamber 50 in which the lamps 44 are positioned. The opposing ends ofthe partition panel 46 engage the vertical plates 38 so that the infantsheltering chamber 48 is environmem tally isolated by the top wall 32and its sections 36 and by the panel 46 from the irradiation chamberwhereby the temperature, relative humidity and oxygen percentages of theinfant sheltering chamber 48 can be controlled in the usual manner.

The partition panel 46 is of suitable transparent fluorescent raypermeable plastic material and forms the bottom wall of the infantsheltering section 48 which is enclosed by a rectangular shell-like dome52 formed of relatively hard clear plastic material, such as clearacrylic resin, Lucite or the like transparent material. The open bottomof the dome 52 is sleeved over the top portion of the base cabinet 12which has its end, front and rear walls formed with a stop shoulder 54on which the lower edges of the side and end walls of the dome seat, asshown in FIG. I.

The dome has its front wall 56 formed with circular apertures 58 of asize to accommodate the hands and arms of attendants with conventionaltransparent closures 60 being provided for closing off the openings. Thedome may also be provided with and carry or support the usual controlarrangements and treating devices for an infant within the shelteringchamber 48.

The base cabinet 12 is provided with shelves 62 that support a bank oftransformers 64 and a bank of starters 66 which are connected by wires68 to the sockets for the tubes 44. Suitable cables 70 are sheathed overthe wiring and are connected to a large vertically arranged conduit 72which conveys the wires to the socket bars 40 and 42. A toggle on-offswitch 73 is connected to the wiring and mounted on the end wall, asshown in FIG. 2.

In order to dissipate heat from the lamps 44 and to eliminate highoxygen concentrations, means are provided for continually flushing theirradiation chamber 50 with fresh air and for directing such ambient airacross and over the lamps 44 from one end of the chamber 50 to the otherend. Such air flushing and directing means includes a fan and motor 74arranged in the bottom of the base cabinet adjacent one end thereof. Thefan is connected to a vertically disposed air duct 76 which has itsupper end opening into an air inlet 78 below one end of the bank offluorescent tubes, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The other end of theirradiation chamber is provided with an air exhaust aperture 80 openingthrough the upper portion of the rear wall of the base cabinet with therear wall of the dome having an opening in registry with the aperture80.

The high level of fluorescent illumination produced by the lamps 44 andpassing through the fluorescent ray permeable partition 46 into theinfant sheltering chamber 48 is multiply-reflected within the shelteringchamber 48 by virtue of a reflecting plastic sheet or film 82 placedover the outside or on the inside of the dome 52. Thus, although theillumination within the infant sheltering chamber 48 is high, only asmall portion, approximately 18 percent. of this is transmitted throughthe dome to the outside. By virtue of the mul tiply-reflecting processwithin the infant sheltering chamber 48 and the primary illuminationsource below such infant sheltering chamber 48, I00 percent of thesurface of an infant lying within the sheltering chamber 48 will bebathed with illumination. Satisfactory results may be obtained using,for example, Scotch-tint solar control film which provides for highreflectivity in a transparent plastic film.

To assure maximum illumination of the underside of the infant, awaffle-type clear plastic material mattress 84 is placed on thepartition panel 46 to directly support the infant. The mattress isformed so that it resembles a plastic waffle in which each projection isfilled with air. The mattress can have different waffle sizes so thatthe resilience of the mattress can be controlled. Since air cancirculate freely between the projections, it can be appreciated that theskin of the lying infant will not be adversely affected.

It is believed, in the light of the foregoing description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the manner of use andoperation of the incubator or infant treating device 10 will be obviousso that a detailed description of such use and operation will not begiven.

However, it is to be understood that various changes may be made. Forexample, instead of using the tubes 44 as the fluorescent light source,ring-type fluorescent illuminating lamps may be used. Further, as areplacement for the reflecting plastic film, the dome itself can be madereflecting by, for example silvering or half-silvering the outside orthe inside surface. Thus, the invention is only to be limited by thescope and spirit of the appended claims and is not to be restricted bythe description, Abstract of the Disclosure or the drawings.

What is claimed is:

I. An incubator for treating newborn infants afflicted with bilirubin bydisintegrating the same from the in- IOIOSl 046 fants blood stream withfluorescent light rays comprising an infant sheltering chamber having abottom wall of fluorescent ray permeable material, a top wall andvertical wall means connecting the bottom and top walls. means forcontrolling the environment within said infant sheltering chamber, meansunderlying the bottom wall of said infant sheltering chamber forproducing a high level of fluorescent illumination within said infantsheltering chamber and means surrounding the top and vertical wall meansof said infant sheltering chamber for multiple-reflecting within theinfant sheltering chamber for fluorescent illumination so that theentire surface of the body of an infant within the sheltering chamber iscontinuously and thoroughly bathed with fluorescent illumination rays.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a waffle-type air mattress offluorescent ray permeable material is positioned on the bottom wall ofsaid infant sheltering chamber to directly support the body of theinfant in a way so that the fluorescent light rays pass therethroughinto the infant sheltering chamber and so that air can circulate freelyaround the lying infant.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for producing thefluorescent illumination includes a bank of fluorescent tubes disposedin a coplanar horizontal arrangement below the bottom wall of the infantsheltering chamber.

4. The device of claim I wherein an irradiation chamber underlies theinfant sheltering chamber and is environmentally isolated therefrom andin which the means for producing the fluorescent illumination isenclosedly housed, said bottom wall of the infant sheltering chamberproviding a top wall for the irradiation chamber and air tightlyseparating said chambers so that separate and distinct conditions canexist in the chambers.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for producing thefluorescent illumination includes a mul tiplicity of fluorescent tubesoperatively housed in the irradiation chamber in an enclosed mannerbelow the bottom wall of the infant sheltering chamber.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said top wall and vertical wall meansof the infant sheltering chamber are transparent and said reflectingmeans includes a reflecting transparent plastic sheet completelyoverlying and covering the top wall and vertical wall means.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein means is provided for continuallyflushing the irradiation chamber with fresh air.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said chambers are mounted on a basecabinet having ground engaging wheels.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said air flushing means includes a fanand motor mounted within the base cabinet and means in communicationtherewith for establishing a flow path for air across and over thefluorescent tubes.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein transformers and starters for thefluorescent tubes are housed in the base cabinet and means is providedfor connecting them with the tubes.

lOl054 046R

1. An incubator for treating newborn infants afflicted with bilirubin bydisintegrating the same from the infant''s blood stream with fluorescentlight rays comprising an infant sheltering chamber having a bottom wallof fluorescent ray permeable material, a top wall and vertical wallmeans connecting the bottom and top walls, means for controlling theenvironment within said infant sheltering chamber, means underlying thebottom wall of said infant sheltering chamber for producing a high levelof fluorescent illumination within said infant sheltering chamber andmeans surrounding the top and vertical wall means of said infantsheltering chamber for multiplereflecting within the infant shelteringchamber for fluorescent illumination so that the entire surface of thebody of an infant within the sheltering chamber is continuously andthoroughly bathed with fluorescent illumination rays.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein a waffle-type air mattress of fluorescent ray permeablematerial is positioned on the bottom wall of said infant shelteringchamber to directly support the body of the infant in a way so that thefluorescent light rays pass therethrough into the infant shelteringchamber and so that air can circulate freely around the lying infant. 3.The device of claim 1 wherein said means for producing the fluorescentillumination includes a bank of fluorescent tubes disposed in a coplanarhorizontal arrangement below the bottom wall of the infant shelteringchamber.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein an irradiation chamberunderlies the infant sheltering chamber and is environmentally isolatedtherefrom and in which the means for producing the fluorescentillumination is enclosedly housed, said bottom wall of the infantsheltering chamber providing a top wall for the irradiation chamber andair tightly separating said chambers so that separate and distinctconditions can exist in the chambers.
 5. The device of claim 4 whereinsaid means for producing the fluorescent illumination includes amultiplicity of fluorescent tubes Operatively housed in the irradiationchamber in an enclosed manner below the bottom wall of the infantsheltering chamber.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said top wall andvertical wall means of the infant sheltering chamber are transparent andsaid reflecting means includes a reflecting transparent plastic sheetcompletely overlying and covering the top wall and vertical wall means.7. The device of claim 5 wherein means is provided for continuallyflushing the irradiation chamber with fresh air.
 8. The device of claim7 wherein said chambers are mounted on a base cabinet having groundengaging wheels.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein said air flushingmeans includes a fan and motor mounted within the base cabinet and meansin communication therewith for establishing a flow path for air acrossand over the fluorescent tubes.
 10. The device of claim 8 whereintransformers and starters for the fluorescent tubes are housed in thebase cabinet and means is provided for connecting them with the tubes.